Friends of mine that are in the midst of planning their summer wedding have found a fantastic way to have the wedding of their dreams without breaking the bank. They’re “registering” for their wedding/honeymoon trip.

My friends have planned their wedding and honeymoon at a resort in the Caribbean. They will leave for a week, get married on their second night there, and spend the rest of the week “honeymooning”. When they arrive back home, they will be throwing a very casual picnic-style “reception” at a local park.

And instead of registering for china and crystal stem-wear that would probably spend a lifetime collecting dust in a cabinet, friends and relatives can go the their registry on the resort’s website and pay for a portion of their wedding/honeymoon trip. So ultimately, they could end up with a fully paid wedding and honeymoon with just $1,000 out of pocket for the reception!

Interesting, huh? This way, the newly weds don’t end up with a bunch of gifts they don’t really need and their friends and relatives know they are doing something the couple will truly appreciate.

Now, this isn’t for everyone. My more traditional friends have expressed they could never get married this way. But I, for one, think it’s a fantastic way to plan a wedding. Not to mention starting a new life together by saving a few bucks rather than taking the plunge into debt. After all, the couple that saves together stays together, right?!